The other stuff first. In the middle of my recent DONE4 I had a side-trip booked on the Finnair web site from Helsinki to Rovaniemi (in the north). It was the only part of the trip for which points and SC's did not post. Filled in the QF form online and this appeared on my activity statement a week later: UNSUCCESSFUL CLAIM - UNABLE TO VERIFY FLIGHT AY 0422 ECONOMY 16JAN08 ROVANEIMI/HELSINKI.

So I call the Qantas service desk, who asked for boarding passes. Problem is this is a one-class plane - sit where you like - no boarding pass thing. In the end I email e-ticket yesterday and actually get a phone call from Qantas today. The fare was booked in Z-class so no FFP's or SC's. First time its ever happened to me. At least i got the couresy of a call.

Now as to the tying up part. I started in NRT and have 7 legs to go (out of Sydney). Must be completed by xmas day within SWP and Asia. For the gurus out there what would be your preferred routing to maximise SC's and of course enjoy the best service/flights. Might upgrade a couple of the Asia flights to F.

Thanks in advance.

How many Asian/SWP segments have you used?

Assuming no Asian/SWP segments have been used, I suggest the following is on the way to maximizing points/SC's:

syd-akl-syd-bom-hkg-khi-hkg

Earns 700 QFF SC's and possible 30K QFF points.

But visiting BOM and KHI minimizes travel enjoyment (they are hellish airports, and HKI can cause problems in later years if combined with some unusual travel patterns).

I would do SYD-PER-ADL-AKL-HKG-DPS-HKG-NRT, nice flights and some chance of 3-class 744 sold as 2 class on CX for DPS. But that avoids QF international, and upgrades on CX are difficult at best.

So would I but alas, QF cancelled ADL-AKL some time ago (and I'm still mad about it, a year later).

If avoiding the subcontinent appeals then for 620 SC's:

• syd-cns-mel-akl-hkg-sin-dps-nrt

Yup. For the month following my visit to KHI last year I got questioned at customs & immigration in both Australia and NZ. Once Pakistan dropped off the list of countries visited in the past 30 days - no problem.

I haven't been to BOM but imagine the airport similar to DEL, and KHI is worse than DEL as an airport. As a place to visit & stay - great. Just keep an eye out for political unrest.

That pretty much persuades me that the sub-continent can wait for the next DONE4. Thanks for the advice.